Prevalence of Caesarean Section Deliveries Among Primigravidae in General Hospital Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria

The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of caesarean-section among primigravida in general hospital Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria. The study was a hospital-based cross-sectional retrospective survey conducted from January 2016-December 2016. The target population comprised all the primigravida within the age of 16-45 who underwent caesarean section in General Hospital Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria. The sample size consisted of 224 patients that met the inclusion criteria of caesarean deliveries performed after period of viability (28 weeks). Data collection instrument was the hospital delivery records from the maternity units, theatre records, admission and discharge registers in labour ward with outcome of caesarean section using delivery collection sheet. Collected data were analysed using frequency distribution table. Findings revealed increased incidence of caesarean section from a steep of 17.9% recorded in January-February after a rapid rise to 20.5% in September-October to 22.3% in November-December. Finding also showed that most of the cases of caesarean-section achieved a life viable fetus with an APGAR score of 8/10 in the first five minutes of life. Major indications for caesarean-section were due to failure to progress during labour, previous uterine scar, no reassuring fetal status and fetal mal-presentation. It was also revealed that majority of women who had a previous caesarean section ended up having a spontaneous vaginal delivery.